Ranking each AFC playoff contender’s remaining strength of schedule: Steelers, Dolphins face rough road

The AFC’s playoff race is tighter than the sweater you tried to fit into the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, it’s that tight. 

Six teams with 7-6 records are fighting for the conference’s final two wild card spots. Every team in the AFC North is above .500, although the Ravens have opened up a two-game lead over the Browns for first place. In the South, the Texans and Colts are both within a game of first place Jacksonville. And by virtue of Sunday’s loss to the Bills, the Chiefs’ lead over Denver in the AFC West is down to a single game. 

How is everything going to play out over the next month? Let’s just say it won’t be as predicable as a Hallmark movie. That being said, we can make some educated guesses at what will happen based on each contender’s remaining strength of schedule. 

Below, we’ll rank each contender’s remaining strength of schedule in order, from toughest to easiest. Before we dive into that, here’s an updated look at the AFC standings, with the top seven currently in the playoffs (if you want a breakdown of the tiebreakers and each team’s outlook, click here).

1. Ravens (10-3)
2. Dolphins (9-3)
3. Chiefs (8-5)
4. Jaguars (8-5)
5. Browns (8-5)
6. Steelers (7-6)
7. Colts (7-6)

8. Texans (7-6)
9. Broncos (7-6)
10. Bengals (7-6)
11. Bills (7-6)

Each AFC contender’s remaining strength of schedule 

1. 

Ravens 

.654 (at Jaguars, at 49ers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers)

2. Dolphins .615 (vs. Jets, vs. Cowboys, at Ravens, vs. Bills)T3. Steelers .577 (at Colts, vs. Bengals, at Seahawks, at Ravens)T3. Bengals .577 (vs. Vikings, at Steelers, at Chiefs, vs. Browns)

5.

Bills 

.519 (vs. Cowboys, at Chargers, vs. Patriots, at Dolphins)

T6. 

Texans 

.481 (at Titans, vs. Browns, vs. Titans, at Colts)

T6.

Colts 

.481 (vs. Steelers, at Falcons, vs. Raiders, vs. Texans)

8. 

Browns

.462 (vs. Bears, at Texans, vs. Jets, at Bengals)

T9. 

Broncos 

.423 (at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Chargers, at…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-each-afc-playoff-contenders-remaining-strength-of-schedule-steelers-dolphins-face-rough-road/

Author : Bryan DeArdo

Publish date : 2023-12-12 16:03:02

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